Posts Tagged ‘Abdominal Cavity’

Endometriosis Part 55 – What is Unilateral Oophorectomy?

Comments: 0April 20th, 2011 by admin



As we mentioned in previous articles during the last stage of the menstrual cycle normally a layer of endometriosis lining in the inside of the uterus is expelled, known as menstruation blood but instead some of the endometriosis tissues grow somewhere in the body causing endometriosis. Endometriosis also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle, building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. If endometrial cancer tissues found in one of the ovary, you doctor may suggest Unilateral oophorectomy to have one or both ovaries removed . In this article, we will discuss what is unilateral oophorectomy?

I. Definition
Unilateral oophorectomy is a medical procedure to have one ovary removed, if cancer or endometriosis cancerous cells are found inside in one of the ovary. After unilateral oophorectomy, the woman will continue to have menstrual cycle and can become pregnant.

II. How it work
General anesthesia is needed and the operation is done in the hospital.
a) Normally, Unilateral oophorectomy is done with a laparoscopic procedure as we mentioned in previous article. Laparoscope is a thin tube containing a tiny lens and light that inserts through a small incision in the navel with a camera on the other end that allows your doctor to see the abdominal cavity on a video monitor. After the ovary is detached, it is removed though a small incision at the top of the vagina.

b) Vertical incisions
Vertical incisions give the doctor better view of of the abdominal cavity but it will leave some notable scar. If cancer is detected, a vertical abdominal incision is needed. After the incision the ovary is removed
c) Horizontal incision
If the ovary is removed by horizontal incisions it will leave a less notable scar.

III. Risk and side effects
a) Heavy blood loss caused by medical instrument used during surgery.
b) Heaving bleeding during or after operation
c) Infection of the incision area, may be caused by bacteria or medical instruments.
d) Needed to stay to hospital for 2 – 5 days
e) Time to recover is longer. It may take 3- 6 weeks to return to normal activity.

IV. Other medical term
a) Bilateral oophorectomy
Both ovaries are removed
b) Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
Remove one Fallopian tube and one ovary in the same side
c) Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
Remove both Fallopian tubes and ovaries

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Ovarian Cancer Stages

Comments: 0July 24th, 2009 by admin



By the stage of a cancer we try to express how far the disease has spread. It is crucial, as treatment is mostly decided depending on the stage of a cancer. For ovarian cancer, doctors use a simple I-IV staging system called the FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) system.

Stage I means the cancer is confined to the ovaries. In stage IA, the cancer is confined to one ovary, while in IB the cancer is present in both ovaries. In stage IC, in addition to the cancer being present in either one or both of the ovaries, cancer cells may be present on the outer surfaces of one or both ovaries, or in fluid taken from inside the abdomen; or, the outer wall of a cystic ovarian tumor may have burst.

By stage II we mean the cancer has grown outside the ovary or ovaries, but it is inside the pelvis. In stage IIA, the cancer has reached the fallopian tubes or the womb, while IIB means the cancer has grown into other tissues in the pelvis, such as the bladder or rectum. Stage IIC indicates that in addition to stages IIA and IIB, either some cancer is present on the surface of at least one ovary or cancer cells are found in fluid taken from inside the abdomen during surgery, or the ovary ruptures before or during surgery.

Stage III means the cancer has spread outside the pelvis into the abdominal cavity. It is also stage III if cancer is found in the lymph nodes in the upper abdomen, groin or behind the womb. In stage IIIA, cancer can be seen under the microscope in tissue taken from the lining of the abdomen, while in IIIB, small tumor growths are found on the lining of the abdomen. In IIIC, tumor growths larger than 2cm are found on the lining of the abdomen; the lymph nodes in the upper abdomen, groin or behind the womb contain cancer.

Stage IV, the most advanced of all, means the cancer has spread into other body organs such as the liver or lungs.

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Stages of Ovarian Cancer

Comments: 0January 22nd, 2009 by admin



There are four specific stages of ovarian cancer. Knowing these stages will help you to determine what your treatment options are and what symptoms to look for so you can get the upper hand on the silent killer.

Stage one is when the cancer is limited to the ovaries only. Within this there are three stages. Stage 1A is when the cancer is limited to just one ovary, 1B is when the cancer is in both ovaries and 1C is with tumors on either one or both ovaries and a tumor on the surface.

Stage two is when the ovarian cancer involves one or both ovaries with pelvic extension. Stage 2A is when the cancer has extended to the uterus and/or the tubes, 2B is when the cancer has extended to the pelvic tissues and 2C is a tumor with a ruptured capsule that contains malignant cells.

Stage three is ovarian cancer that involves one or both of the ovaries and the cancer has spread outside the pelvis. Liver metastasis can equal stage three ovarian cancer. Stage 3A is when the cancer is limited to the pelvis but microscopic examination shows seeding in the abdominal cavity, 3B is when the cancer has become implanted on abdominal surfaces but nothing is above two centimeters in diameter and 3C is any abdominal cancers over two centimeters in diameter.

Stage four is a growth on one or both of the ovaries with distant metastasis. Stage 4A is an extension of metastasis to the uterus and/or the tube, 4B is an extension to the pelvic tissues and 3C is a ruptured capsule with malignant cells.

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Posted in cancer